Are Pride & Prejudice Stifling Your Walk?

Are Pride & Prejudice Stifling Your Walk?

When God spoke to Jonah, instructing him to take a message of repentance to the city of Ninevah, Jonah refused. He didn’t like the Ninevites and he didn’t want God to forgive them. In Jonah’s mind, the Ninevites were nasty people who worshiped other gods and didn’t deserve forgiveness and grace. In fact, they weren’t Jews, so it wasn’t worth his time to speak to them!

After Jonah ran from God, was saved out of the belly of a fish by God, and saw the Ninevites repent as a result of hearing God’s word, he became bitter, declared that he was angry, and stated that it would better for him to die than to have to deal with God having mercy on the Ninevites. 

Now fast forward to Acts 9, where God speaks to a man named Ananias through a vision. Ananias is instructed by God to go to Saul, lay hands on him and impart the Holy Spirit and healing to him. Ananias' response was one of alarm: “This man has been persecuting and killing Christians, and you want me to do what?” God responded by telling Ananias that that Saul had been chosen as His mouthpiece to spread the Good News, so Ananias obediently hiked it to Straight Street where he laid hands on Saul. Saul’s eyes were spiritually opened and he immediately began to preach Christ crucified and risen.

Both of these men were sent to people who they wouldn’t dream of approaching on their own. But how each responded shows the love and dedication they had to God. Jonah was happy to serve God as a prophet as long as he could continue to hold prejudice and hatred in his heart. He devalued his relationship with God through disobedience and the limitations he placed on what he would do for God. In essence, he chose who was worthy of hearing God speak through him, overriding God’s purposes so that he could wallow in his hatred and prejudice!

Ananias, on the other hand, trusted God and was willing to risk his life when God directed him to go to the very man who was killing and persecuting Christians. He double checked with God, asking Him to clarify, then set aside his pride & prejudice to obediently and humbly carry out God’s instructions. 

In the end, God’s purposes were accomplished in both the Ninevites and Saul, but through these examples we are left with lessons on how to respect, honor, love and obey God. The final words we have about Jonah are that he valued a gourd vine more than he valued the 120,000 souls who lived in Ninevah (Jonah 4:10-11). Ananias, on the other hand, called Saul ‘Brother’ and imparted God’s Spirit to him. Ananias was more interested in fulfilling God’s desires than holding onto his prejudices and mindsets. Ananias understood that God is Truth, God is love and God is wisdom: we are here to fulfill His purposes.

God uses us to bring His message to others, but He also uses those circumstances as times of testing our hearts and teaching us: sometimes He puts us in the very situation that will irritate our our mindsets, pride and prejudices! Perhaps God desired to purify Jonah’s heart for greater works ahead, but Jonah wouldn’t have it. He failed the test and was never heard to prophesy again, as far as we know. 

What about us? What kind of prejudices, anger or mindsets are we carrying which limit God in and through us? Isn’t it time to break down the boundaries and walls between us and those who need God’s love and forgiveness? Isn’t it time we passed the test, allowed God to purify our hearts and moved forward in greater obedience to His will?

John the Baptist: Political Watchdog?

By definition, a political watchdog “watches the activities of a particular part of government in order to report illegal acts or problems” (Dictionary.Cambridge.org). While it may be a stretch to call John the Baptist a political watchdog, we do have evidence that he exposed at least one messy affair in the Roman government.

John the Baptist, a Jewish man who was sent ahead of Jesus to pave the way for His coming, had a fiery personality. At one point, as John baptized converts in the River Jordan, a group of Pharisees and Sadducees met him on the shore. Before they could open their mouths to explain their presence, John put them in their place, calling them a “brood of vipers” that needed to repent and produce the fruit of righteousness.

But John didn’t reserve his fiery messages for the Jewish nation, only. We know that he involved himself in the affairs of the Roman government because John publicly rebuked Herod Antipas for his adulterous relationship with his brother Philip’s wife. We have very little in-depth information about this rare interaction, a Jewish man rebuking a Roman official, although it is recorded in three of the four Gospels: Matthew 14, Mark 6, and Luke 9.

John rebuked Herod Antipas for divorcing his first wife and marrying his brother’s wife, Herodias, by telling Herod that his actions were ‘unlawful.’ And while Herod Antipas wasn’t a Jew, he was familiar with Jewish Law because his father had converted to Judaism and loosely followed the Law when Herod was young. Perhaps this is the reason John felt that Herod could understand the term ‘unlawful’ even though Herod was a Roman ruler.

We know that John was a prophet who heard directly from God (Luke 7:28), so perhaps this is why he was free to expose a Roman official. But this interaction brings up questions about, and perhaps gives support for, the idea that Christians can (and/or should) expose the evil deeds of governmental officials. While we don’t see others exposing the wickedness of Roman officials in John’s time, we do see that Jesus and His disciples exposed the evil acts of the Pharisees, Sadducees and Jewish Sanhedrin of their day.

What do you think; is it Biblical for Christians to expose the evil deeds of their government? Are certain people in the Body of Christ assigned to this sort of task? What about the general posting of speculative accusations via Face book: does this qualify as an appropriate and Godly exposing of wickedness?

Lastly, if the answer to each of the above questions is 'yes', then we should also be willing to stand by the facts we expose ... to the point of death! This example should keep us on the straight and narrow; without exaggeration, without disrespect, and without a doubt having a confirmation from the Lord on what we are reporting as truth. Speaking a difficult truth is what brought an end to the life of John the Baptist: Herod Antipas cut his head off and gave it to his step-daughter at his wife Herodias' request. Herodias was likely a bit bitter at having been publicly humiliated by John's reports of her illicit affair!

Ask yourself ... "Is it I, Lord?"

 As Jesus reclined at the table with his disciples, partaking of the Last Supper, he revealed to them that one of them was going to betray Him. Someone in His group of closest friends and confidants was about to give him over to those who would degrade and torture Him, then kill him through a painful and public death.

Some of the disciples immediately went to self examination – asking the Lord to reveal the secrets in the depths of their hearts: “Is it I, Lord?” they asked, “Am I the one who could do such a dastardly and horrendous evil to my Lord and Savior?” (paraphrased Matt. 26:21-22).

In the past they might have started pointing fingers at one another, or insinuating who the guilty party may be. They might have drawn conclusions with their practical thinking skills, putting “two and two together” in an effort to support their suspicions. But now, in this solemn moment with their Savior, they sought His wisdom and direction before pointing a finger.

These powerful 4 words “Is it I, Lord?” reveal a sentiment and humility that God can work with. Instead of looking outwardly and finding fault with the world around them, a number of the disciples had come to understand a precious key to having the heart and mind of Christ: submitting the thoughts and ways of our hearts to Him for examination!

A sincere and trusting relationship with God requires that we allow Him to examine the depths of our hearts and minds in every situation before putting ‘guilt’ upon someone else. Godly humility tells us to take advantage of every opportunity to seek His wisdom and understanding and allow Him to show us the motives and devices through which we operate. These are opportunities in which the Holy Spirit can re-train and re-form our modes of processing and reacting, and cleanse us of the motives of self-defense and self-preservation. These are times when God can mightily move us forward in our sanctification process if we are willing to drop our mindsets before Him and allow Him to interject His thoughts and modes of operation.

Ask yourself “Is it I, Lord?”
Is my thinking not clear on this? Or is my heart wounded and ready to pounce on those who might be speaking Truth to me? Or perhaps I am ready to take care of something through my flesh when you have ordained a spiritual resolution to the problem!

Ask yourself “IS IT I, LORD?”
Perhaps some of it is you and I, and maybe our perceptions of things are a very small percentage of the difficulties we experience, but living through Christ requires that we be willing to remove our thoughts and desires and elevate His, giving way to the perfect will of God! 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart. See if there be a wicked way in me" (Ps. 139:23). Let me not jump to conclusions based on my experiences and mindsets, but break me free of 'self' and cause me to see and understand Your ways!

Are You Living thru the Holy Spirit....or a New Testament Law?

What Jesus or Paul did in specific circumstances is not necessarily what I should do. Biblical examples are written as possibilities, as learning tools, and as a means for us to know God. But if we do not depend on the Holy Spirit to show us how to handle each circumstance individually, we might as well go back under the law! If we are going to take the examples in the Bible and set them as a rule, a law for every circumstance we come across, then we have taken God out of our lives and replaced Him with legalities! Only God knows the details of every situation and the condition of each heart involved, so while I have a set of possible solutions written down for me, the Holy Spirit must lead to the correct handling of each situation. 

Consider the time when Jesus was teaching at the temple and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. According to the law, which Jesus was living under at the time, the woman should have been stoned to death (Lev. 20:10). But Jesus knew her heart AND the hearts of those who brought her before Him: they were testing Him and using her to do it. They weren’t concerned about her actions or even her affect on society, and they may have set her up so they could catch her in adultery and use her in their plan. In fact, the law called for both the man and the woman to be stoned, but the Pharisees brought only the woman to Jesus as a means of suiting their wicked plans. They were scheming to find a way to condemn Jesus as a lawbreaker and false teacher: they wanted to discredit Him and regain the allegiance of the people.

Jesus response to their accusations and testing was mercy: “If any of you is without sin, throw the first stone” (John 8:7). This was the perfect solution to the problem, the perfect answer to the woman’s sin AND the sin of the Pharisees. Mercy is an open door for examination of one’s heart; a road which leads to repentance! But if Jesus had promoted the stoning of this woman, the opportunity for repentance would have been missed and the Pharisees would have gathered steam in their war on Jesus. As it was, each of those Pharisees, and the others gathered around Jesus who were ready to throw a stone, became convicted and quietly left the scene! 

What if Jesus had promoted a lynching of sorts? What if He had taken the legalities of the Word and thrust them as a weapon into the situation, stirring the crowd around Him? Where would the conviction of the accusers have come in? The best solution was that which was guided by the heart of God, and also supported by the Word: “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matt 9:13, Hos 6:6).

God knows the hearts of all involved in every situation, and it is only He that can direct us into a perfect solution. He knows the motives of our own hearts, and if we are willing, He will take us outside of those motives and use us to bring about His perfect response and solution. Let the Word wash and cleanse and change our hearts, but let it not be a set of legalities and rules which we slap down on every circumstance: in doing this, we dismiss the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about God’s perfect will and resolution in the events of our lives!

Are you tired and sick....and sick of it?

Isa 37:3 They said to him, "This is what Hezekiah says: 'Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.

I’ve had a dream in my heart since the day I received Christ as my Savior: I’ve always known that the Lord implanted this dream within me. And now, after years of growing and seeking and learning and repenting, it’s time for the dream to become a realization. It’s as though God has brought me to a precipice where I can see the dream, the land of fulfilled promise…….however, I have been kept from stepping into it.

But God has not kept me back; it’s I that am holding myself back. I have had very little concern for my physical well-being and I now find myself with little energy and on the verge of losing some of my mobility if I don’t quickly change my lifestyle.

This is much like coming to the point of having a child yet having no energy to deliver it. I have gone through the labor and the stretch marks and the emotional ups and downs of the pregnancy of the dream, but because I have not tended to this physical body I am teetering on the verge of having too little strength to deliver the baby.

Over the years, I put too little effort into taking care of my body while focusing immensely on seeking God and studying His word: I should have done both. While our minds and spirits should be focused on God, our bodies must also be brought into line with His perfect will or we will come to the point of exhaustion when it’s time to carry out His plans in the physical realm.

The physical care (not obsession) of our bodies must be seen as a spiritual activity if we are to serve God for the long haul on this earth. If we are to live our lives with strength and zeal, physically carrying out His spiritual purposes, we must responsibly care for our bodies or we will be wrecked vessels; without the stamina to fulfill our God-given purposes.

Exercise and good nutrition may seem unimportant when we are focused on seeking and serving God, however, both contribute to controlling weight (affecting stamina and combating a multitude of diseases and physical complications), improving mental and emotional well being, increasing energy and promoting good sleep (Mayo Clinic:Healthy Lifestyle).

Perhaps some of you have been like I was: constantly praying that I’d feel and look better, but doing little on my own to help make that happen. But know that God has put much power in each of our spirits to make these things happen and we must use that power to act in self control and determination while also educating ourselves on how to best care for these physical vessels of service!

Make a change now: don’t get to the point of birthing the purposes of God but having too little strength to deliver the baby! Don't let your emotional concerns be tended to by food instead of by the Spirit of God. Be willing to say 'no' to the drive-thrus of the world which offer an opportunity to drain both your pocketbook and body. Don't allow the enemy's plans for your demise to supercede God's plans to bring about His purposes in your life for His glory!

DISCLAIMER: this is not an explanation as to why anyone is sick. This is the story of what happened to 1 person, and the conviction the Lord gave her to do her part in taking care of herself. This is not a promotion of any health product or a proclamation of guilt on any person for having a disease or sickness. This is an encouragement to be responsible [without obsessing] in caring for the vessels He’s given each of us to carry out His work on this earth.

BE QUIET: God is Speaking!

How exciting it must have been for Peter, James and John to have witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus Christ! One minute they were climbing a mountain and the next they were standing in front of a radiant Jesus as He spoke with Moses and Elijah!

At the very least, the transfiguration would have confirmed for the disciples that Jesus was going to die and be raised to life again, because Moses and Elijah stood on the mount speaking to Jesus about His upcoming death and the fulfillment of God’s plans through Him.

As this event unfolded, James and John stood by and silently took it in, perhaps in awe of what they were witnessing as they listened to Jesus and the others speak. Peter, however, began to make plans and suggestions, moving toward Jesus, Moses and Elijah with the ideas he had in mind. While Jesus was yet shining like the sun before him, Peter verbally spilled out his ideas into the holy and sacred atmosphere on the mount.

“It’s good that we’re here together, God is in this! Let’s set up camp here and get comfortable. We can make this our permanent home ministry base. Let’s build an office for each of you! And.........….” (Paraphrased Matt. 17:4).

And even as Peter was speaking, God interjected His thoughts into the situation. Matthew tells us the God interrupted Peter’s harangue, telling them to listen to Jesus: “While he [Peter] was STILL SPEAKING, suddenly a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said: This is My beloved Son. LISTEN TO HIM!” (Mark 9:7).

In Peter’s defense, we’re told that he was so stunned by the glory of Jesus and magnificence of the situation that he wasn’t sure what he should say (Mark 9, Matt 17, Luke 9). But it appears that God’s plan was for him to say nothing: all he was supposed to do was listen to what Jesus was saying…ALWAYS!

God’s plan will always come to pass, but we may miss the magnificent manifestation of it if we are too busy making our own plans and talking over Him. We may miss the moment of awe that He has set in place for us to experience and learn from if we can’t be still before Him. If we’re set on showing Jesus our ideas for the current situation, then we have it backwards and have missed the voice of God: let us first hear His voice, then build accordingly!

Need more power? Be like Stephen!!

True to the command of God, the Church in Jerusalem took care of feeding the local widows (Acts 6). In fact, this was such an important job that the apostles themselves participated in the distribution of food on a daily basis.

However, it became evident to the apostles that the preaching of the Word was suffering because they were spending so much time distributing food to the hungry. To solve this problem, the apostles called the entire church together and advised them to choose 7 men from among themselves whose lives testified of their dedication to God, who were full of the Holy Spirit, and who operated in the wisdom of God. These were the type of men needed to distribute food to the widows and poor!

Once the church had accomplished this task, the apostles laid hands on the 7 and released them to the business of feeding the hungry. But Stephen, who had been sitting among the other members of the church before being chosen, began to perform miracles. Strangely enough, the apostles had not anointed him to perform miracles; they had anointed him to feed hungry widows. But once Stephen set about the task he was given, God used him in a way he might never have imagined.

To God, the food pantry was a perfect place for a man like Stephen (and the other power packed 6 as well). To the apostles, food distribution was important enough that they took it on for a time, then insisted that those who take their place be Holy-Spirit filled and wise. To the church, this task was important enough for the entire congregation to come together in search of their most qualified members. The fact that they had 7 men among them of this caliper is testimony to the dedication, strength, power, integrity and fortitude of the congregation in Jerusalem.

When Stephen was chosen, he wasn’t studying-up to be anything but a living testimony of Jesus Christ. He was dedicated to seeking God and living in faith through the Holy Spirit. Then he and the rest of the 7 accepted the call to serve widows: a job that today might be considered menial and of little importance.

But every task done for the Lord is an opportunity to extend the grace and power of God to people in need. No one person or gift has a market on the power of God; He is no respecter of persons and His power is not confined to those who are on a speaking circuit or labeled as apostles. Stephen was chosen to work in the food pantry and God chose this place to perform miracles through Him. Bit it is also likely that Stephen followed the pattern of Jesus, performing miracles in a wide variety of locations and circumstances, according to the needs of the people and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The heart that fully seeks God will be used of Him. The heart that is set on achieving status or is too ‘anointed’ to do menial tasks is one that forgets that there is power in washing the feet of others. And in effect, this is the type of task that Stephen and the 7 were assigned. It’s the heart that is willing to serve which may be suddenly surprised by the dunamis [miraculous] power that is poured upon it. Far above seeking an anointing for miracles, the 7 sought God and willingly submitted to His assignment to serve. In service and humility, power comes!!!

“…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life--a ransom for many” (Mark 10:43b-45).

Feeling Inadequate?

Imagine being forced to marry someone you cannot please!
 
This was Leah’s life! She was older sister of Rachel, the beautiful and shapely daughter of Laban. But Leah was considered to be weak eyed and nothing to look upon (Genesis 29:17). Surely Leah had spent her life listening to others heap praises upon her sister, and this is likely where her feelings of inadequacy and insecurity began.

When Jacob appeared on the scene, he immediately fell in love with Rachel because of her beauty, and he was willing to go to great lengths to gain Rachel’s hand in marriage. In fact, he pledged himself to 7 years of labor under Rachel’s father, Laban, in exchange for the right to marry Rachel.

When Jacob’s 7 years of labor were complete, his wedding night finally arrived. But to Jacob’s surprise, he woke up the morning after to find Leah in bed next to him. Naturally Jacob was upset, but Laban’s answer to him was that the younger sibling is never given in marriage before the older; and Leah was the older sister. Scripture says that Jacob despised Leah because of this (Gen. 29:31).

Here was another wound added to Leah’s already damaged emotions: she was despised by her husband. She was ugly. She was undesirable. She was hated. So Leah determined in her mind to make her husband love her by bearing children for him. And to get him to sleep with her, Leah purchased time in Jacob’s bed by giving Rachel a basket full of mandrakes: how humiliating this must have been. It seems that Jacob customarily slept with Rachel, his beloved, while Leah slept alone with her feelings of loneliness and inadequacy.

Perhaps God’s plans for Leah’s life were being fulfilled. Perhaps she was in the place she was supposed to be, physically. But most certainly she wasn’t in that place emotionally or spiritually. And who can blame her, after what she endured. But through all of her struggles, God was with Leah and he blessed her with children. Her legacy is that she physically bore 6 Jacob 6 sons, who later became 6 of the 12 the tribes of Israel.

However, Leah never overcame her feelings of inadequacy and they eventually turned into feelings of jealousy. She never came to the place of understanding that her value and her purpose were found in God, in spite of her circumstances. Her eyes and heart were continually focused on gaining value through performance. If she could give Jacob enough sons he would love her – then her life would be perfect. But in striving to become ‘lovable,’ Leah added misery to her already difficult state of being; she focused on man’s valuation of her instead of God’s purpose for her. This led her to adapt her life toward changing others feelings about her.

Leah’s circumstances were difficult, but we each have different burdens to bear and we must allow God to be our first love in every circumstance or our feelings and weaknesses will dictate our lives. It is only in God that we gain security and are truly loved, in spite of the way that people view us. He is our source of value and He is where we find our worth. If we base our value on man’s opinion, it will give a place of superiority to fickle emotions and cripple our ability to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.

As a side note, we can see the heritage that Leah left to her children: she passed on her feelings of inadequacy and jealousy to her 6 sons, who then sold their brother Joseph (Rachel’s son) into slavery. Their motive was jealousy! (Genesis 26-47).

RELENTLESS PURSUIT!!!

 -If you are searching for more; wanting to uncover the Truths of the Bible through the Holy Spirit and desperately wanting to know God more intimately...

-If you are not satisfied with the status-quo of religion but have your mind and heart set on pursuing God for the purpose of becoming His ambassador of grace, love and Truth on earth...

-If you want to operate in the power of the Holy Spirit and become His arm extended to the lost and hurting...

-If you are willing to leave behind the knowledge which comes from religion and pursue heavenly insights, wisdom and understanding...

-If you accept that God has imbued you with a power that is far above the powers and principalities of this world...

-If you understand that Christ is the Head of the Church, and you are His Body extended to the earth...

....then you are the answer to the Apostle Paul's prayer!!!!

"I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength. He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens-- far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put everything under His feet and appointed Him as head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of the One who fills all things in every way" (Eph 1:16-23).

But know this also, someone is not going to like the idea that you have gained your freedom in Christ, and that you are an answer to Paul's prayer. The enemy is going to fight you tooth and nail, and bring people against you to tell you that you have gotten too big for your britches, or that you have gone off on a tangent, or that you are under false teaching.

Just LOVE those people anyway! But never stop pursuing God and His Truth. Have no fear of man. Don't regard the negative comments. Don't regard it when they tell you that you are deceived. Don't settle for a teaspoonful when God has given you the entire ocean!

Stay humble: mere knowledge puffs up, but love edifies and encourages others even when they mistreat you (1 Cor 8:1). True humility continuously seeks the Truth of God, never believing that he or she has obtained it all. True humility let's God be God in every circumstance, never setting up a fence or set of rules by which God can operate. Break down the fences and listen to the Holy Spirit: this is humility!

YOU are the answer to the Apostle Paul's prayer: walk in the Truth you have been given and never stop pursuing a deeper understanding! Be relentless!

Church: My way or the highway!

One of the things that has always fascinated me when studying the Word of God is that the Church seems to have limitless options on how it physically carries out the plans and purposes of God. There are no set rules for how a Church service should be organized, where services should be held or how often we're to meet. There are a few Scriptures which give information about what happened in a Church service (1 Cor 12-14) or where the Church Body met (Rom16:3-5), but overall, we have only general information on what should happen when we come together.

We do, however, have indication that each church, and especially the elders in each church, are responsible for setting up the church to operate in a manner consistent with Biblical principals as a whole (Matt 18:10-20, Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5, Eph 4:11-16). This gives great responsibility to each Body to hear from the Lord on how they are to go about His work and how to organize that individual Body to best accomplish God's purposes on an ongoing basis. And while the elders and leaders are responsible for instituting the directions heard from the Lord for that Body, this is to be done in a manner which will create an atmosphere conducive to fellowship, teaching and training through love and humility (Eph. 4:11-16, Romans 12). What this looks like in each Church should be somewhat different dependent on the mix of people, their gifts, their location and the work God has called them to do as a local Body.

So as we look at the Church today, we can see that each individual Church operates in the same manner as others in some ways, but there are those which operate very differently from what's considered the 'norm.' This does not necessarily mean that either one is right or wrong. Most importantly, as long as a church is within Biblical guidelines, we should look more at what that Church Body is accomplishing for God rather than examining how they carry out the details of His directives.

For example, consider the idea that some Churches meet in homes and some in other buildings. Some pass an offering plate and some have a box in the back of the room, some have worship leaders and some don't. Some churches support foreign missionaries while other churches house local soup kitchens. All of these activities fall within the general guidelines of accomplishing God's will, but we're not given specifics as to how they should be done. It seems that this is intentional on God's part: this should cause us to continually seek Him and His guidance in forming His Church in the manner He desires!

If we get to a point of depending on stringent rules and methods for serving God, and those rules and methods limit God's ability to direct His Body, then we have usurped the authority of God and come under man's authority. In essence, this scenario creates a form of Law which makes people slaves to men under the guise of serving God. Paul addressed this in Colossians 2, saying that rules and methods have the appearance of wisdom but they're based merely on man's teachings and customs. When man sets such stringent order in the Church that God can no longer do what He desires to do, it is no longer a church but an organization. This is reminiscent of the religious system propagated by the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus' day; one which Jesus condemned as a set-up for a few to take advantage of many by turning them into slaves to religion and tradition (Matt. 23).

So each person must seek God's wisdom to learn how they can worship, serve, fellowship and grow, then plant themselves in a Body as God directs. It is the responsibility of each individual to make sure that Body is within Biblical guidelines and God is at the helm, rather than man. But it is also our responsibility to NOT turn our nose up at the Body down the street which meets at a different time, stands while worshiping, meets on Thursday instead of Sunday, or meets in someone's home.

While many in the Church at large agree on Biblical doctrine, we often don't agree on what that doctrine looks within the Church structure (not a building, but a living, breathing organism). In fact, it seems that some people have gotten to the point of great certainty in their ideals of how Church should be done, even though many of those ideals cannot be proven out Biblically. But there may be more freedom (and necessity) to hear directly from the Source on a daily basis than we have customarily (and traditionally) thought. Seek for yourself: you'll likely find that the Bible does not give us the dictate that it's "Church my way or the highway," but it promotes a complete dependence on God in forming the Body of Christ at any given time and location!

I'm drained...and I call that VICTORY!!!

God, HELP! I Need Your Chutzpah!!!


You can celebrate the day when you wake up and realize that, if you're going to do this thing, if you're going to accomplish the dream He's put inside of you, you need a lot more gumption, energy, audacity, fortitude and chutzpah!

It's the moment you realize that life and circumstances are finally to the point where you can and should do it, but your body and mind are saying to just think and dream about it instead of doing it! Maybe it's fear, maybe it's laziness, maybe it's tiredness.....or perhaps it's ______________ (you fill in the blank).

Today is that day; I'm at the end of my physical, mental and emotional self-motivation in this thing! I choose to see this as being in a good place because I could never accomplish it on my own, and I shouldn't. It's a God thing - it's His dream in my mind and spirit, and it has to be accomplished through God's power, resources and boldness!

When I am weak and finally come to the end of my ideas, plans and energy, He steps in with His strength and says "My grace is sufficient: when you are willing to admit that you are weak, and lay aside your man-made plans, then I can be powerful in your life for My glory and purposes!!!"
I call that VICTORY!!!

Finder of False Teachers: Is this a new spiritual gift?

The Pharisees and Sadducees were masters at arguing points of the law in order to prove themselves knowledgeable and righteous! They often engaged Jesus in arguments, hoping to trap Him in some trumped up charge of blasphemy, thus having an excuse to put Him to death and regain control of the multitudes that Jesus had brought to the Light.

In one such instance, the Pharisees approached Jesus and asked Him if it was right for Jews to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, Caesar. If they couldn’t destroy Jesus by manipulating their own laws and tricking Him into sinning, they would try to make it look as if He was an enemy of Caesar, and Caesar would destroy Him. 

But Matthew 11 shows us Jesus’ heart in dealing with the Pharisees: He did not strive! He wasn’t looking for an argument or debate. Jesus’ discussions had clear motive: to draw people to God through Truth! His purpose was to bring the Kingdom of God to earth through His sacrificial life and death. He wasn’t out on the streets looking for someone to prove wrong, nor was He looking for a way to elevate Himself; He knew who He was and He was secure in it. He was looking for a heart that was willing to receive the blessing of God’s gift of salvation. If a discussion was necessary to accomplish this, so be it.

The Pharisees, however, were filled with pride at being experts in interpreting the law. They were self appointed judges, pointing out ‘false teachers’ (ie: Jesus, in their minds) as a means of proving their right to reign as religious leaders! They quoted the words of the law (often mixed with their traditions) but they missed the spiritual meaning and the heart of God within His Word! Jesus said to them “you miss the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. You strain the gnat and swallow the camel…” In short, they made a practice out of finding fault, instead of practicing God’s love by serving others (Matt 22:37). 

These hard headed fault finders developed a ‘ministry’ focused on pointing out false teachers. In fact, they put so much energy into this ‘ministry’ that it consumed them and short circuited their own growth! And in their eagerness to be right, they completely missed the Word of God, which does not list this activity as a ‘gift’ or a ‘purpose’ within the Church. 

Recognizing false doctrine is a matter of exercising discernment based on having flooded one’s heart and mind with the Word of God through the Spirit of God. And while each of us should practice discernment in what we hear and see, Church leadership is to take responsibility for protecting their own sheep from false teachers as part of their ministry of serving the sheep. 

On an individual basis, we are responsible for what we see and hear, but we’re not responsible to point out ‘false teachers’ as though it were our ministry. And caution needs to be exercised in labeling ‘false teachers’ as a practice, because in doing so, there is a prideful assumption on our part that we are always right and others are always wrong. And if we are not 100% right in this practice, we border on blasphemy, which includes attributing the works of God to the devil (Matt 12). 

What are the gifts God has given you; qualities and spiritual endowments with which you can serve God and the Body of Christ? If you don’t know, please take the time to find out! You’ll find a small list of them in 1 Corinthians 12-13, but there are numerous gifts listed throughout the New Testament (administration, helps, gifts of healings, etc.). Please note that you’ll not find a gifted titled “finder of false teachers” within the pages of the Bible!

Are You A Controller?

When Jesus sat at the last supper with His disciples, He was fully aware that Judas was going to betray Him. Judas had been with Jesus and the other 11 disciples for 3 years, and he’d had the same training and example as the rest of them. But Judas had ulterior motives (ie: money bag) which caused him to betray Jesus. As they sat at the last supper together Jesus' and Judas' eyes met, and Jesus said to Judas “what you are about to do, do quickly” (John 13). Judas then left the table and set about the act of betraying Jesus.

But note what Jesus did not do: knowing that Judas was about to make the biggest mistake of his life, Jesus did not stop him. He gave him the choice to betray! In fact, before Jesus gave Judas the bread, He said aloud, “Someone is going to betray me.” That was enough warning for Judas to understand the wickedness of what he was about to do and then make the choice for himself. Jesus didn’t threaten him, warn him, accuse him, manipulate him or demean him; he gave him the choice to sin!
If anyone had reason to control another person, it certainly would have been Jesus at that point in time. But given the opportunity, Jesus did not interfere or control those around Him; He was (and is) about freewill! And while Jesus' teaching and example encouraged making right (God pleasing) choices, He never stepped in and forced others to follow His plan, nor did He stop them from following their own.

The idea behind these points is that it is completely unGodly to control other people. Teaching and training are part of kingdom work, but in church, in our families and in friendships, we are never meant to control others. Certainly, when we have authority to govern, decisions need to be made which others will have to follow, but in situations where we simply want to control others, it is not of God!

Are you a controlling person? Do you dominate, over-react, berate, manipulate, spy, accuse, argue relentlessly, belittle, heap guilt, practice sullenness, bully either physically or emotionally, or make others feel unworthy as a means of getting your way (psychologytoday.com)? Perhaps you are generally right and you let others know it on a continual basis. Or maybe you are closed off to hearing the insights of others, even if you are right!

If so, then please consider Jesus’ response to Judas’ betrayal. Let this be a wake-up call to you, an opportunity to go before the Lord in repentance. Let the Lord show you the results of your controlling behaviors, of constantly trying to pull the strings of those around you. Perhaps you are stopping the will of the Lord by controlling others; if Jesus had controlled Judas, then God’s will would not have been done!

Perhaps each of us has (in a large or small way, occasionally or often) allowed this spirit to work through us!

The Church: Are My Thoughts Irrelevant?

Many of us have had tough experiences with church, and whether we think we were part of the problem or not, there are always 2 sides to a story. These experiences should cause us to lean into God if we view them properly. We must never look at those who have hurt us as though they represent God 100%, then use that as an excuse to turn away from Him and His people.

While I'm a big advocate for examining self and restoring relationships, there are times when we are simply better off NOT going back into a situation which is perhaps unGodly, abusive or off-kilter Biblically. And there are also times when we have made an error and need to run back to the Church for help!

But above all, it's highly important the we DO NOT build a view of the Church based on what has happened to us: good or bad. Our understanding of how the Church should operate should never be based on our feelings or experiences, but on the Word of God. Many people have had gratifying experiences with Church, and most Churches are likely Biblical and God honoring, but if I have a gratifying experience with a Church that doesn't necessarily make it a Biblical experience. Nor does my negative experience make the church unBiblical.

Take for example the person who is continually elevated and given A+ treatment by a Church because of the large offerings they are able to give. To this person, his treatment may make him feel that he's in a wonderful, Biblical Church, but an examination of Scripture shows that this is not true (James 2:2-4).

While we could list numerous examples of Biblical and unBiblical circumstances, the bottom line is that we must seek Scripture's insights on how the Church is to operate and then shift our thoughts and actions to line up with it. But in doing this, the whole counsel of God must be considered; picking or choosing a few Scriptures here and there will give us a skewed view of God's Church as well as an excuse for poor attitudes and behaviors toward our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are at a crossroads, a time when we have great freedom to make choices. But those choices must not be made based on the way we feel. Spiritual responsibility and righteousness dictate that we take the high road and pour ourselves in the Bible; we cannot wait for someone else to tell us how God intends to run His church! It's our responsibility and privilege to make the Bible our source of knowledge, wisdom and information concerning the Church. We must seek Him before forming opinions or following people who may have good intentions but do not align with the Word of God!

Does this mean that once we have studied the Word, and perhaps see something askew in the Church we attend, we should run from there? God forbid that we see everyone else as imperfect and ourselves as perfect. Perhaps it's the perfect opportunity to lovingly ask questions, pray, observe and examine self in the process. Remember that we are all imperfect people being perfected by God. Follow His leading while operating in grace and love!

Remember, also, that there are some things which God leaves for each Church to put in place and establish for their individual congregations (Matt. 16 &19). God is not so restrictive with us as to establish a hard set of rules for operating, but He leaves much up to the local congregation and those leading, trusting that they will seek His face for direction.

Lastly, with great emphasis, I encourage you to search the Bible before you decide what "Church" means. Is it a large gathering, is it a small group? Or perhaps it has many shapes and forms which are all interconnected.

May God bless those who are diligently seeking and striving to follow His pattern for the Church, all 'additives' aside!

When Being 'Nice' is a Bad Idea!

To be nice means to be pleasing, agreeable or delightful (Dictionary.com).

Sometimes people are 'nice' but not Godly. In fact, many of today's social movements are about being nice - they cater to the temporal feelings of a person but don't value the greater, eternal concerns of Christ-likeness, righteousness and holiness. An example of this could be the parent who spoils the child by being 'nice' [catering to the child's whims] and later sees the treacherous results. There is no going back!

Grace and kindness are not the same as niceness. Grace and kindness see the sin but love the person without promoting evil; they are not flesh pleasers. Grace and kindness are inspired by God and filled with His wisdom, promoting His way of living; they lead us to repentance, whereas niceness may make us feel comfortable in our sin. Niceness is an agreeable people pleaser, and in the end it brings no glory to God unless it is specifically inspired by Him.

So let your dealings with people be filled with the grace of God and the kindness that leads others to Him. These are Godly attributes and they have eternal value for both the giver and the receiver! Refrain from the worldly niceness which gives credibility to unGodly behaviors and attitudes.

This was Jesus' example; He was bent on saving people from hell by delivering the grace and kindness of God to them. Let us not be confused by the world's niceness, but remain steadfast in following Jesus' example!

The "Mark of the Beast" ... Be Informed!

We may not know the exact day and timing of events and seasons prophesied in the Bible, but if we search it out, we'll see that there is a definite order to these events.

For example, we should be able to tell, by reading Old Testament prophecies (Is 9, 53), that the Savior must first be born, then redemption through His blood comes. That sounds immensely simple, but it's God's order of things. We can look back and see that it would have been impossible for there to be any other order to these events, even though no one knew the exact timing of Jesus birth or death on the cross before it happened.

It's the same way with end times events. We don't know the exact timing of the events, but a hearty look into the book of Revelation, Matthew, Daniel and 1st & 2nd Thessalonians shows us the order in which these events are to take place. If carefully studied, Scripture reveals 'order' words such as; after this, then, but first, immediately after, at that time, and until then. These little words have immense meaning in the bigger scheme of God's end times plan!

If we pay attention to these words, it will keep us from having a haphazard and scattered view of end times events. We don't want to be looking for the 'mark of the beast' to come on people when the order of events calls for many other things to take place first (ie: the antichrist sets himself up in the temple in Jerusalem as God (2 Thess 2, Matt 24, Dan 8)).

Scripture gives us great indication that the temple in Jerusalem must be restored or rebuilt before the antichrist can set himself up in it as God, and THEN he will give the mark of the beast. We tend to focus on the mark being given (Rev 13), but the called-for events which are to take place in the mean time must come first; God is orderly (1 Cor 14:33). That is not to say that things can't happen very quickly, but it is to our benefit to be good students of the Word and base our faith on that alone! This will keep our focus on God and keep us from grasping at straws to prove a doctrine that includes only bits and pieces of the Truth, but it will also keep us out of the panic and fear mode.

Technological advances often inspire our imaginations; we can envision how some of the end times events might be played out through the use of them. But it's important that we don't excuse something beneficial, which might even be a blessing from God, because we are afraid that the enemy might also use them for his purposes. If that were the case, we'd stay away from the internet, TV and media entirely. This concept is especially true when it comes to the mark of the beast! The Bible tells us that those on the earth at that time will have to make a conscious decision to either accept or refuse it, knowing exactly what's happening. There will be no question as to what it is or that it's coming directly from the antichrist; it won't be hidden in any venue other than that of serving the antichrist, and the mark will be easily discernible (Rev 13, 14). The antichrist will use it to starve and deprive the people of God, but the Bible clearly forewarns that this will happen.

If we are people of the Word, diligently seeking God's Truth and order of events, it will keep us from being fearful in these tumultuous times. And although we may not know every detail of God's end time plan, or exactly how it's played out, God's Word has given us enough information to understand the order of events, which should bring peace to our hearts while waiting and praying for His perfect will to come to pass!

Petty Arguments, Festering Agitations....Be Done With It!

Resolving issues in a Biblical manner!


I am finding, more and more, that the best solution to disagreements is to NOT let them fester! Prayer is essential, but so is going face to face with people, with all the grace you can muster. In a time when people seem to feel justified in letting others 'have it,' we can choose to be those who let them have grace!

Hit agitations, frustrations, disagreements and discord head on: not to confront and prove oneself right, but to bring peace and accord. Get things out in the open, and fill every square inch of the air you breath with God's grace as you do it. In this process, we often find that there are things we, ourselves, have unknowingly contributed to a situation or that our expectations were out of line with the what the other person was able to bring to the relationship.

If you want people to trust you then be upright, rational and reasonable when discussing. That doesn't mean you aren't passionate. Mature, passionate people have control of their emotions and don't blame others for the way they feel and act.

Consider the way you are feeling; are you stuck on an issue and it's festering inside of you but you aren't taking it to the person with whom you are struggling? Very often we are dealing with misunderstandings but we make people into our enemies by our reasoning; we apply intent to their words and actions, and make assumptions based on what we see and feel. Unfortunately, in an effort to get counsel and sort out our feelings, we often draw others into a 'he said, she said' scenario and blow the situation out of proportion! This is not God's way of dealing with others, especially brothers and sisters in Christ.

In fact, Matthew 18 tells us to do things just the opposite of this: we're to first go directly to the brother or sister and speak with them. Notice it doesn't say accuse, degrade or berate them - we are looking for resolve, not an opportunity to vent! If there is no progress at that point, take others with you and talk to the person, realizing that others are there not just for your benefit, but to help sort out the problem from an impartial, Godly perspective. If that doesn't work, take it to the church - not as an accusation, but as a concern that cannot get resolved. At this point you are in God's court on earth, the church. If there is still no resolve, walk away from the person and give the situation time and space.

You may not be dealing with a person who is willing to resolve the problem, but Matthew 18 still gives you the responsibility to open the door to communication and pour grace on the fire of disagreement.

Believe it or not, your disagreement with someone does not mean that God has abandoned them and will never use them again. And if the process given to us for resolving issues with another person comes to the point of walking away from the relationship for a time, that does not mean we're to abandon prayer and self examination as part of the process of resolving the problem within our own hearts and minds. If you find that irritation comes up when you think on the unresolved circumstances, there is more to be done on your part to resolve it in your heart and forgive. Get back to the drawing board of prayer and the Word, and grab hold of the mind of Christ for this situation! There is no justification for holding a grudge and thinking ill of others - the Bible tells us to do just the opposite (Eph 4:31, Php 2:3).

Likely, most of these circumstances are petty, and certainly not worth the energy that we pour into them; they are a distraction from serving God, a tool of the enemy to shift our focus to minor issues. And even more likely is that the problem either began or ballooned because of hurts within us which skewed our thoughts and feelings, causing us to misunderstand others.

In the end, our motives will reveal themselves: are we looking to reconcile the situation under God's grace, coming to His solution, or are we looking to prove ourselves right and justify our feelings?

"Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom 12:16-19, 21).

Persecute Your Distractions!

In his former life, Paul persecuted Christians. As the person Saul, he sought out, tormented, imprisoned and even killed the people of God. So intense and determined was Saul that if he were alive today we might question his links to terrorists and anti-Christian groups (Acts 9). 

But when Saul received Christ, he began to persecute all things that came between him and the knowledge of his Savior! He took that same fervor, sanctified it, and used it to pursue God and His purposes!

In Philippians 3 Paul says “I forget what is behind! I stretch myself toward the things of God, and I strain forward to what lies ahead! I pursue and press on toward the goal of knowing Christ and accomplishing God’s will” (paraphrased Php. 3:13-14).

Once saved, Paul shifted his zeal onto seeking God: everything in his life pushed toward knowing God and serving Him. Paul’s eyes became single on Christ – He was Paul’s world! 

In Philippians 3:14, when Paul says “I pursue my goal…” he is actually saying “I persecute all things that come between myself and knowing God.” The word ‘pursue’ in this passage (some translations say ‘press on’) is the same word which is translated ‘persecute’ throughout the entire New Testament (Thayer's; KJ Concord.). To persecute is to pursue forcefully or zealously, to put to flight, to exterminate or to shut down. 

This is what Paul intentionally did to the things which got in the way of knowing God: he persecuted them. He wouldn’t let them exist and be a distraction for him. There were no excuses: they must resolutely be disposed of if they came between himself and serving God!

This is the kind of intentional fervor which we must have. We must persecute the things that come between us and the knowledge of our Savior. We must rid our lives of the things that keep us from intimately knowing and zealously serving God! 

Ask yourself, what is it that takes my affections and energy off of seeking and serving God? Then either remove it or restrain its influence in your life. 

Be as Paul, persecute the unnecessary and distracting things in life which step between you and God! Make a holy resolve: allow nothing to interfere with your pursuit of God!

Moses' Big Mistake!

If we had to put it into today’s terms, we might say “it sucks to be Moses.” He was the man of God who strove with a million dependent Israelites for 40 years, trying to lead them to a closer walk with God while also leading them into the Promised Land. In the end, after those 40 years of service, he was allowed to look at the Promised Land from atop a mountain, but He would not lead the Israelites into it (Num 27:12).

After being miraculously set free from the bondage of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites saw God part the Red Sea and beckon them through; afterward they watched it spill over and swallow the entire Egyptian army. For 40 years God never left them: they were protected and led through the desert by a pillar of fire at night and a pillar of clouds by day.

But during those years of being led and provided for by God, they complained nearly every step of the way. And each time they complained God supplied them with food, water, rest, protection, etc., etc. etc. But it was Moses who heard their complaints. He carried their pains and problems to God and in turn brought back God’s answers in the form of miraculous supply and protection.

So by the time they arrived at Meribah, after many years of leading the Israelites, Moses was likely becoming impatient and tired, as were the Israelites. But tiredness feels different when you’re on the side of receiving complaints as opposed to being on the side of giving them. Such was the case with Moses; he was wearied from hearing the continued complaints of the Israelites!

“We’re thirsty and there’s no water here. We should have stayed in Egypt! Our children and animals are going to die! We should have died when our brethren died [after they rebelled against God]” (Num. 20). Such were the complaints at Meribah, where Moses and Aaron went before God to once again receive His answers. God’s immediate reply to Moses was: “take your rod, gather the congregation and speak to this rock as they watch. It will yield enough water for them and their animals.”

We are given no indication that God was angry or irritated with the Israelites: the message was straight forward and simple. It was just one more circumstance in which God would show Himself as their faithful and continuous Caregiver and Supplier, even in the driest of circumstances. But Moses was fed up! So instead of delivering the message in the way God showed him, he struck the rock, declared that he and Aaron we’re bringing water from the rock, and called them rebels (Num 20:9-10).

This was the wrong answer, wrong heart attitude and wrong way to represent God! While the Israelites were complainers, Moses himself was rebellious in his actions and words, and God called him out on it. He had taken the credit and glory for bringing them water, but God had supplied it. He had struck the rock, using the force of anger and aggression, when God called for him to speak to the rock. In the end, because of this outburst, Moses was not given the privilege of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land.

Perhaps this seems harsh, seeing that Moses had put up with the complaints of the Israelites for the last 40 years. But Moses’ calling was to first and foremost represent the heart and character of God to a wandering and helpless people. He was a messenger, but he stepped into God’s shoes and used God’s power to release his aggression on those he was sent to serve. In the end, God told Moses that he had not shown His holiness to the people and he hadn’t believed God; he had delivered the message with unsanctified emotions and actions, effectively causing them to think that this was how God was delivering his blessing to them. Moses also showed a lack of faith; he didn’t trust that God would bring the water out of the rock simply by speaking to it.

This one incident certainly doesn’t wipe out the years of love and guidance that Moses gave to the Israelites through God’s continued presence and anointing. In fact, in Matthew 17 we see that Moses has more than stepped into the Promised Land when he appears on the Mt. of Transfiguration with Elijah and Jesus. But this incidence of rebellion does show us the importance of going before the Lord to sanctify our own emotions and frustrations before dealing with God’s people! We must never use God’s power to misrepresent Him to others!

Someone might say that this is Old Testament stuff, and God gives us grace, grace, grace today. While that is true, God’s character has not changed; today we would expect that He’d supply all of our needs, just as He supplied water from the rock in the desert. Then we should also expect that He calls us to be the kind of messengers that He called Moses to be: those who lead and deliver His message with the holiness of His character! This means that the authority and power of God is to be delivered with His heart and intent – otherwise it is a misrepresentation of Him and a usurping of His omnipotence and supremacy!

Let us take a lesson from Moses’ mistake (as well as the mistakes of the complaining Israelites), seeing that all of these words are written as examples from which we may learn (1 Cor 10:6). Let us be instruments in His hands, it is not the other way around: He is never an instrument in our hands! We can take example from Moses rebellion: although he worked diligently, he was never able to take the last few steps to the completion of his calling.

God, help us to never take your power and purpose and represent you through our frustrations, anger or unsanctified emotions! You are holy; cause us to represent you as the Holy God, perfect in all of your ways!

Christians and Red Cups: A Few Questions

Concerning the hype over the red cup at Starbucks, I'm wondering if we, as Christians, are looking to have our proverbial cake and eat it too. Of course, we cannot force others to think and see things in the same way as we do; we are to be lovers of God first but the unregenerate do not yet have that priority.

To be sure, there has been unfair and even terrible treatment of Christian business owners who have had to go against their beliefs and cater to non-Christian ideals. And these circumstances (ie:bakery) were not provoked. However, the tables are now turned, and this non-Christian business has chosen to cut out their seasonal cups and go with a plain red cup.

In the past, Starbucks didn't have Christian scenes on their cups. Maybe snowflakes...but definitely not manger scenes. And perhaps some Christians believed that Starbucks was recognizing the Christian celebration of Christmas. However, considering that they've made known their ideals through various media over the years, it seems highly unlikely that they were even remotely celebrating Christmas as the birth of Christ. To them it has always been a season in which pretty cups help sell drinks which make people feel warm and cozy inside.

So one question is, doesn't Starbucks have a right to sell their product in whatever kind of cup they choose? Why the outrage? Since we, as Christians and business owners, know it is wrong to be forced to cater to the beliefs of the non-Christian sector at the expense of our own beliefs, why would we insist that a non-Christian business cater to our beliefs? Isn't that insisting that they do the very thing which we have (rightly) protested against?

The answer we have come up with regarding the issue of non-Christians forcing Christians to cater to their sins through our businesses, is to tell them to go to a non-Christian business to have their needs met. Perhaps this is the answer to the outrage in the Christian community: don't go to Starbucks, go to a Christian business. Starbucks doesn't have to change to meet our needs, and our outrage is certainly not bringing any of them to Christ. It's a red cup....it's their business...they can do it up their way!
Do we need coffee from Starbucks that badly? Are we so desperate to give them our money? If so, we either drink from the red cup or we go somewhere else.

In the end, this is my primary question: when the tables are turned, do we do things the same way as the world, or do we stick to the Godly values and ideals that we first proclaimed?

Shhhhh....Don't Say "Merry Chistmas!"

Even though I love the Lord with all of my heart, I take no offense that the world does not want to say "Merry Christmas." Those words aren't in the Bible and they're not a requirement for me to be able to enjoy the celebration of Christ's birth. I also have no expectation that I should hear them in the market place or my work place. These words are valid for a only small segment of the year - but there are many more days throughout the year in which I can show the love of Christ in what I do and say.

Being moved by God's compassion to help or lend an ear to someone will cause your words and actions to ring in their hearts much longer than those 2 little (seasonal) words which so many are upset about! At any time of the year, when you look someone in the eyes and they see that you are different than the world around them, they will be drawn to the Spirit in you. The words you speak and the love you show will have a stronger impact than that one phrase which is said a few months out of the year.

November and December are months in which retailers, especially, will say and do whatever it takes to bring sales! Their desire is to be inclusive enough to sell to people who celebrate the 'season' but don't celebrate Christ. And realistically, when the un-saved world says "Merry Christmas," it's no different to them than saying "Happy Halloween!" It's just another holiday. Why have an expectation that the unregenerate world will operate through the Holy Spirit and say "Merry Christmas" with some kind of spiritual intent behind it? We're bringing Christ to them, it's not the other way around.
However, when a Spirit-filled, caring and loving person of God says "God Bless You," all of heaven enforces it, activating the power of God to bless and encourage that person. That could be the start of something life changing!

As Christians, have we become like the rest of the world in that we take offense at things that just bother us but aren't necessarily worth putting our efforts into or bringing up a complaint about? God is much bigger than the phrase "Merry Christmas," and truthfully, there is nowhere in the Bible where we're told to speak these words and celebrate in the manner in which we do.

Let's not base our celebrations of Christ's birth on how the unsaved world responds to it, but on what Christ has done in saving us! If you desire to say "Merry Christmas" with the heart of God behind it, then say it. But if you cannot say it at your workplace, or they don't say it in the stores you frequent, simply shake off the dust, be as wise as a serpent and as innocent as a dove (Matt. 10:16), and say 

"God Bless You!" 

How Biblical is My Doctrine? Am I Willing to Test It?

As a starting point for an examination of our doctrine, and the continual cleansing of non-Biblical mindsets and practices, we can ask ourselves a few questions:

-Based on Jesus words and actions, could I see Him believing and acting the way I do? 

-Did the disciples (meaning all followers of Christ as recorded in the Bible) make a practice of doing or saying the things I say and do? Their words and actions matched – so have I misinterpreted their words and put my own actions and desires into it?

-Would my doctrine be valid across time? Could I step into the times of the greatest persecution of the church, when some of the examples from the ‘Hall of Faith’ lived (Hebrews 11), and trust that my doctrine would be applicable in that time and in those situations? God and His Word are one, and neither ever changes.

-Is my doctrine valid across geographical boundaries? What if I lived in a place where Christians are drastically persecuted, tortured and murdered? Today there are thousands of Christians around the world who live under such conditions on a daily basis – is their problem that they have the wrong doctrine?

-Have I continually hyper focused on any one aspect of the Bible or do I have a good balance and simply follow Christ? There will be times when we focus on one subject or aspect of the Word of God more than others, but forming a doctrine around one or two tenets of the Bible can leave us void of the whole counsel of God. 

-Does my doctrine suit my lifestyle, or the way I desire to live? Have I re-created a doctrine that suits my culture? Ask yourself “what examples do I see in the Bible that lead me to believe this is the way God’s calls us to live?” These examples would have at least 2 witnesses: what is said in the Bible and what is done by the followers of Christ and Christ Himself. There will be times when we cannot see an example, and we simply need an answer from God. But we are concerned with our basic doctrinal beliefs in this brief blog.

-Are there parts of the Bible that I feel I must explain away so that my doctrine appears correct?

-Do I concern myself more with staying in agreement with a sect or set of denominational beliefs rather than letting the Word wash and cleanse my mind and heart?

-Do I take Scripture in context and use the entire Scripture as opposed to chopping off sentences to fit a mindset?

-Do I read the Bible to prove my doctrine or to know Christ and the Truth? If we read to prove our doctrine we will likely find ourselves pushing the people and circumstances in our lives to make our beliefs come to pass. The flesh and soul have a lot of power to bring our beliefs and desires to pass, but that does not mean we are in agreement with God. 

"...in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you" (Titus 2:7-8).

Time for some reconstruction?

Sometimes we just want someone to make us feel good - to agree with us, to pat us on the back, to buy us a sweet drink or justify our dissatisfaction with life. Feeling good is nice, but striving to feel good can be like painting over rust...sooner or later the rust comes through the paint.

But if we scrape the rust away and repair the structure, giving it new life, we can strengthen and protect it from the onslaught of intense weather. Then the structure is much more able to stand strong over the long haul and accomplish what it was created for.

Be the renewed structure! Take the time to cleanse the old way of thinking, feeling and operating and renew your mind to be Christlike! Don't settle for covering the rust with a feel good solution; a latte, a new gadget, venting on your spouse, etc., etc. etc... Get rid of the hurts, emotional pain of the past, unforgiveness, hard heartedness, irritability..and the list goes on!

Be transformed through the Word and receive the mind of Christ. Willingly release those things instead of hanging on to them as though you have a right to feel the way you do! Refuse to conform to the way the world handles life and be transformed to handling life in God's way.

"Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness." (Eph 4:22-24, AMP)

Nothing More Than Feelings!

Did you know that you can train your emotions? 

2 Corinthians 2:4 tells us to have the 'most holy emotions.'  If the Word of God tells us to do something it's not only possible, it's a command that will advance kingdom work, affect others for Christ and intensify our connection to God.

We often have it backward: our un-sanctified emotions lead us, we emotionally crash, then we run to the Holy Spirit for help.  If we would run to the Holy Spirit before we allow our emotions to overwhelm us, He would calm us, teach us and lead us into the righteous use of our emotions.   

Feeling a certain way about something doesn't make that feeling right and holy!  That feeling may be real and justified to us, but at times unhealed hurts come to the surface, twisting our perception and making us emotionally vulnerable.   And sometimes our feelings may not be wrong; it's how we act on them that makes situations worse and leads us into sin.  Re-acting in the way that others act towards us is a means of allowing the enemy to lead us when we should be following the Holy Spirit.

Jesus used emotions as a means of furthering kingdom work:  He felt compassion for the downtrodden (Matt. 9:36), He prayerfully cried over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41), and He was angry over the misuse of God's house  (John 12:15).  In each of these instances Jesus' emotions were a tool which He had control of; He righteously used His emotions instead of letting them use Him!  We must do the same, because even our gifts can be driven by unholy emotions, causing us to misappropriate God's benefits and material goods. 

Let the Spirit of God guide you in the use of your emotions.  Let Him teach and train you in the way you should feel; don't use the excuse that you have a 'hot temper,' or you are a 'sap.' You are a child of God who displays His love and walks in His purposes.

Stay in the Word and train your mind, will and emotions to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.